PA cherokee club
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 307
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From: Philadelphia
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L straight 6
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 1
From: Warren, Pa
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Originally Posted by 97JeepXJ4x4
Anyone know of a good 33 inch tire that either 11.75-12 wide that won't break my bank account an has nice manners on an offroad?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Warren, PA 16365
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
This is from the www.eriejeeppeople.com website, and a pretty darn good list to keep in mind when prepping your Jeep for the trails. MOST clubs will have similar requirements.
Trail Ride Requirements
This is an area of the club that I am going to be enforcing more now that we have been seeing a large influx of new members.
1) Vehicle must have tow-points front and rear. NO EXCEPTIONS... If you do not have tow hooks, you are not prepared to wheel with us and you will not be allowed on the trail ride. You run with us long enough, you WILL get stuck.
- TJ Front tow-hooks can be purchased for around $6.00 a piece at Tractor Supply. You will need to purchase (4) grade 8 bolts 1/2" coarse thread x 3" long to mount the hooks to the top of the front frame rails
- CJ's and YJ's have a wider spread bolt pattern on the towhook than the TJ's. I have not found a local source for these hooks besides for Truckin' 4WD. They can also be purchased very reasonably from 4WD Hardware or Quadratec.com
- XJ's and ZJ's have a uni-body construction and require special brackets to mount front towhooks. These brackets are available at a reasonable price from Rusty's Offroad. Rear tow points can be provided by an OEM rear tow hook bracket and hook or a class III 2" receiver tow hitch (or greater). A rated aftermarket bumper can also be used for front and/or rear tow points.
- For TJ's, YJ's, and CJ's a rear tow-point can be provided by hooks mounted to the frame (requires some drilling), a rated aftermarket bumper, or a class III 2" receiver tow hitch or greater.
2) Running boards or side steps are not recommended, but they do make for some good fun watching them bounce off of rocks and tree stumps. I've seen it all too many times, the factory steps on a TJ are not designed to be used as a rock slider... If you decide to keep your side steps on your Jeep, be prepared to be picking them up from the side of the trail when they get ripped off...
3) CBs are not mandatory for the trail rides, but are highly recommended. The CB is our MAIN method of communication on the trail, it is used to call for a spotter, relay back information of upcoming trail obstacles, etc... We do NOT use FRS radios, but you are welcome to bring them as they can provide good communication between the spotter and the driver. Handheld CB radios will give you decent trail communication, but may not work so well on the highway as we caravan to the trails.
4) Seat belts are required. The are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. You must where your seat-belt at ALL TIMES when you are in your Jeep on the trail. We have already seen one roll-over in our more extreme group this year and we do NOT want to see anyone get hurt.
5) No tow straps with metal hook ends. For those of you who do not know, straps with metal hooks are VERY dangerous. The hooks can break loose and become a dangerous projectile. Straps with fabric loop ends are much safer and will fall harmlessly to the ground if they break. The minimum rating for a strap that I personally would recommend is a 20,000#, 20 foot long strap. For only a few more dollars, you can get a 30,000#, 30 foot long strap. The extra length is invaluable during some extractions. Better to have more strap than you need then not enough. Straps can be purchased at Tractor Supply or at any of the online 4WD shops.
6.... Open top Jeeps must be equipped with the factory cage as a minimum. We will not allow any open-top Jeeps to wheel with us with the cage removed. For those of you that have been getting more extreme with yor Jeep (you know who you are), I would recommend an aftermarket cage welded in and tied to the frame. Which cage you buy is a personal preference and will require some research on your part. Do NOT attempt to build a cage if you are not a competent welder, it is TOO important of a safety item to go half-assed on...
7) We have no lift or tire requirements, we pride ourselves in being able to take new Jeepers out in the woods, show them what their vehicle can do and get them out if they happen to get stuck. Although we technically don't have any tire requirements, all-terrains are recommended as a minimum with mud-terrains being highly recommended. Street tires just do not offer the traction needed for most types of wheeling and you will most likely not be happy with their performance.
8.... Should also have water and maybe a snack, you never know. You could be broken in the trails for hours.
9.... I also carry a first aid kit -- bug spray -- tools and parts.
10....A Fire Extinguisher is recommended
Originally Posted by eriejeeppeople.com
Trail Ride Requirements
This is an area of the club that I am going to be enforcing more now that we have been seeing a large influx of new members.
1) Vehicle must have tow-points front and rear. NO EXCEPTIONS... If you do not have tow hooks, you are not prepared to wheel with us and you will not be allowed on the trail ride. You run with us long enough, you WILL get stuck.
- TJ Front tow-hooks can be purchased for around $6.00 a piece at Tractor Supply. You will need to purchase (4) grade 8 bolts 1/2" coarse thread x 3" long to mount the hooks to the top of the front frame rails
- CJ's and YJ's have a wider spread bolt pattern on the towhook than the TJ's. I have not found a local source for these hooks besides for Truckin' 4WD. They can also be purchased very reasonably from 4WD Hardware or Quadratec.com
- XJ's and ZJ's have a uni-body construction and require special brackets to mount front towhooks. These brackets are available at a reasonable price from Rusty's Offroad. Rear tow points can be provided by an OEM rear tow hook bracket and hook or a class III 2" receiver tow hitch (or greater). A rated aftermarket bumper can also be used for front and/or rear tow points.
- For TJ's, YJ's, and CJ's a rear tow-point can be provided by hooks mounted to the frame (requires some drilling), a rated aftermarket bumper, or a class III 2" receiver tow hitch or greater.
2) Running boards or side steps are not recommended, but they do make for some good fun watching them bounce off of rocks and tree stumps. I've seen it all too many times, the factory steps on a TJ are not designed to be used as a rock slider... If you decide to keep your side steps on your Jeep, be prepared to be picking them up from the side of the trail when they get ripped off...
3) CBs are not mandatory for the trail rides, but are highly recommended. The CB is our MAIN method of communication on the trail, it is used to call for a spotter, relay back information of upcoming trail obstacles, etc... We do NOT use FRS radios, but you are welcome to bring them as they can provide good communication between the spotter and the driver. Handheld CB radios will give you decent trail communication, but may not work so well on the highway as we caravan to the trails.
4) Seat belts are required. The are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. You must where your seat-belt at ALL TIMES when you are in your Jeep on the trail. We have already seen one roll-over in our more extreme group this year and we do NOT want to see anyone get hurt.
5) No tow straps with metal hook ends. For those of you who do not know, straps with metal hooks are VERY dangerous. The hooks can break loose and become a dangerous projectile. Straps with fabric loop ends are much safer and will fall harmlessly to the ground if they break. The minimum rating for a strap that I personally would recommend is a 20,000#, 20 foot long strap. For only a few more dollars, you can get a 30,000#, 30 foot long strap. The extra length is invaluable during some extractions. Better to have more strap than you need then not enough. Straps can be purchased at Tractor Supply or at any of the online 4WD shops.
6.... Open top Jeeps must be equipped with the factory cage as a minimum. We will not allow any open-top Jeeps to wheel with us with the cage removed. For those of you that have been getting more extreme with yor Jeep (you know who you are), I would recommend an aftermarket cage welded in and tied to the frame. Which cage you buy is a personal preference and will require some research on your part. Do NOT attempt to build a cage if you are not a competent welder, it is TOO important of a safety item to go half-assed on...
7) We have no lift or tire requirements, we pride ourselves in being able to take new Jeepers out in the woods, show them what their vehicle can do and get them out if they happen to get stuck. Although we technically don't have any tire requirements, all-terrains are recommended as a minimum with mud-terrains being highly recommended. Street tires just do not offer the traction needed for most types of wheeling and you will most likely not be happy with their performance.
8.... Should also have water and maybe a snack, you never know. You could be broken in the trails for hours.
9.... I also carry a first aid kit -- bug spray -- tools and parts.
10....A Fire Extinguisher is recommended
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
From: Lockhaven PA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
i tend to b over prepared i have about 100 foot of chain and strap,a hi lift jack and a winch so recovery souldnt be an issue along and people have tow points
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,869
Likes: 2
From: Allentown, Pa
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Originally Posted by outlawtr450
i tend to b over prepared i have about 100 foot of chain and strap,a hi lift jack and a winch so recovery souldnt be an issue along and people have tow points
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 0
From: State College, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Yeah, I did know that RC requires the hooks and full spare, I just don't have them yet....my spare is a 225 instead of a 235, think that would be an issue?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Warren, PA 16365
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 2
From: York PA/State College PA
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Originally Posted by bighouts5591
Yeah, I did know that RC requires the hooks and full spare, I just don't have them yet....my spare is a 225 instead of a 235, think that would be an issue?
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,869
Likes: 2
From: Allentown, Pa
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Originally Posted by bighouts5591
Yeah, I did know that RC requires the hooks and full spare, I just don't have them yet....my spare is a 225 instead of a 235, think that would be an issue?
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
To be honest they don't come out an check you jeep they just go on your word but it's worth it to have a spare an some tow points to make life easy an maybe a couple tools to help along the way as well
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 1
From: Rapho Township, PA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L straight Six
Its true, they don't stop u if you do not have hooks or a spare. But they will not help you. Its wheel at your own risk. I will have tow hooks, chains, straps, tools, food, clothes, and plenty of gas and washer fluid. Never had an issue with just those. Good to have a tire pressure gage and a cb as well. Though i do not have a fs spare.... i am going to bring the air pump.... so should be okay.
